Makati City — Filipino pole vault superstar EJ Obiena rose to the competition on home soil, outlasting France’s Thibaut Collet in a dramatic showdown to capture the gold medal at the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge on September 21, 2025, at Ayala Triangle Gardens.
The world No. 7 Obiena faced stiff competition throughout the afternoon, including a tense battle with Poland’s Piotr Lisek at the 5.70-meter mark. Lisek pushed hard to secure the second spot, but Obiena cleared the bar on his second attempt to stay in the hunt with Collet advancing alongside him.
The championship duel intensified at 5.80 meters, where both Obiena and Collet failed on their first tries. On the second attempt, Obiena cleared the bar to send the Filipino crowd into frenzy, while Collet faltered again. With pressure mounting, the Frenchman finally cleared on his third attempt, keeping the contest alive.
The bar was then raised further, with Collet opting to go straight for 5.90 meters, while Obiena chose 5.85 meters. The Filipino vaulter narrowly missed on his first two tries before switching to 5.90m for his final attempt, which he was unable to clear. Collet, meanwhile, had three chances at 5.90m but also failed to complete the height.
That left Obiena’s clutch clearance at 5.80 meters as the golden mark, securing him the championship in front of a roaring home crowd.
The victory capped off a historic moment not only for Obiena but also for Philippine athletics, as the country successfully hosted its first World Athletics Continental Tour–Bronze category pole vault event. The Challenge gathered elite names such as Ersu Şaşma, Menno Vloon, Piotr Lisek, and Matt Ludwig, along with rising Filipino standout Hokett delos Santos.
With the gold secured, Obiena proved once again why he is Asia’s top pole vaulter — and showed that Filipino athletes can soar among the world’s best.
